Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-10-25

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM offers fewer installments of bonus to striking teachers; decision by latter on Wednesday

[02] PASOK, KKE comment on developments in educational sector

[03] No change to university entrance exam pass mark, PM stresses

[04] Papandreou opens Socialist International meeting on Rhodes

[05] Interior minister briefs President on local election results

[06] 'Greece: poetry and music' anniversary concert at UN General Assembly

[07] PASOK leader Papandreou on 61st anniversary of UN

[08] Report ratified on strengthening Civil Protection role

[09] Roussopoulos on US report regarding missing Greek Cypriots

[10] Exhibition held marking 30th anniversary of Barcelona Treaty signing

[11] Greece, China seek to boost shipping ties

[12] Finance minister holds talks with Chinese trade minister

[13] Tourism minister pays official visit to Russia

[14] Investment opportunities in western Greece outlined in US

[15] Parliamentary Economic Committee discusses draft state budget

[16] Tourism revenues up significantly in last decade, report

[17] PM briefed by development minister over energy issues

[18] Message by merchant marine minister on occasion of AMVER awards

[19] SE European electricity forum begins

[20] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise

[21] Public prosecutor rules criminal charges for 2005 air crash

[22] Papoulias in Thessaloniki this week for twin celebrations

[23] Event to honor ethnic Greek vets of Soviet army during WWII

[24] Roman-era busts unearthed under the Acropolis

[25] Event in honor of painter Moralis

[26] Earthquake off Carpathos, seismologists reassuring

[27] Measures approved against discrimination of women migrants in EU

[28] Marianna Vardinoyannis awarded Legion d' Honor distinction

[29] Int'l oncology con'f on Crete

[30] Estonian PM: Turkey has to open its ports to Cyprus

[31] Turkey should convince it behaves in a European way, says Cypriot FM

[32] Hoon calls on Turkey to fulfill its EU obligations

[01] PM offers fewer installments of bonus to striking teachers; decision by latter on Wednesday

ATHENS, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The government's new proposal calls for payment of a promised monthly benefit to state school teachers in four rather than the original six increments spread over three years, namely, two six-month installments in 2007, followed by one in 2008 and one in 2009. Conversely, union leaders said the premier referred to salary scales in force for civil servants, and with a time-table over five years, in response to teachers' pay demands.

Karamanlis called the one-and-a-half-hour meeting positive, reiterating that the government holds the work and contribution of teachers in the highest esteem. Nevertheless, he told an 11-member delegation of teachers that the state of the economy does not allow the government more leeway to meet their demands this year.

"As the prime minister I have responsibility for the economy, and I do not have the right to mortgage the country's future just to become momentarily agreeable … I cannot mortgage the efforts of all Greek citizens towards economic reform and development," Karamanlis said during a brief nationally televised address after his contacts with teachers' representatives.

The meeting came after repeated calls by the government and Karamanlis for striking teachers to return to their classrooms. The primary school teachers' union, DOE, has demanded, among others, pay hikes of more than 30 percent -- the government puts the figure at more than 40 percent -- for new hirings.

DOE president Dimitris Bratis, who said the government did not table a "comprehensive proposal" during the meeting, added that regional general assemblies of primary school teachers will convene on Wednesday to decide the future of the ongoing industrial action, while promising to make-up lost class time. On their part, middle and high school teachers will also decide whether to continue their strike as well, called in solidarity to DOE.

Other issues reportedly discussed during the high-profile meeting included funding for the wider education sector via 3rd and 4th Community Support Framework (CSF) programs, especially a sum of 3.3 billion euros promised by the government from the latter framework.

Additionally, Karamanlis told educators that the government insists on the need for an evaluation process throughout all education levels, as is the international practice.

"We want primary and secondary teachers allies in this effort," Karamanlis said, while adding that he proposed a meeting with teachers' representatives before the beginning of each academic year.

"I called on educators to follow the path of responsibility vis-à-vis parents and pupils," he concluded.

Spokesman on results of meeting: Questioned about the government's plans if teachers refuse the call to return to classrooms and decide to extend their strike, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos expressed hope that they would "respond to their sense of responsibility" and stressed that the government, via the prime minister, had outlined its intentions and capabilities with full honesty.

He also underlined that the meeting on Tuesday had been organized in collaboration with the education minister.

Asked whether the lost teaching hours could be made up and teachers paid for the days they were on strike, the spokesman said that both the government and teachers wanted to make up the lost hours and, should this happen, that teachers would be paid. The technical details would be settled by the education ministry, he added.

With respect to Karamanlis' offer to teachers to pay a monthly benefit in four rather than six increments, Roussopoulos pointed out that the time-frame for its payment remained the same, with full payment again being made in 2009.

"The prime minister also made it clear that there could be no change to the offer for 2007, that it would be given as originally planned in two six-month incremental payments," he added. The rest of the benefit will be raised again by single increment in 2008 and another in 2009, he said.

Regarding the pledge to increase spending on education to 5% of GDP by the end of its four-year term, Roussopoulos said that this remained among the government's targets but was difficult to achieve by the end of the current four-year term.

"This government has greatly increased, in absolute figures, the sums directed toward education," he added.

[02] PASOK, KKE comment on developments in educational sector

ATHENS, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

PASOK spokesman Nikos Athanasakis said that the prime minister must assume his own responsibilities first and then call on others to assume their own.

Athanasakis accused the ruling New Democracy party that "although it had promised to increase education expenditures to 5 percent of GDP, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos is stating now that it is difficult for expenditures to reach five percent by the end of the four-year term."

The PASOK spokesman went on to say that "nothing can take place in education without an increase in funds" and reiterated PASOK's commitment that when it comes to power "it will indeed increase expenditures to five percent of GDP."

KKE Secretary General Aleka Papariga said on her part that her party rejects "all that was announced and promised for teachers" by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis during his meeting with the teachers' unions.

"This meeting constitutes an effort to exercise extortion to stop the struggles of teachers through a specific de-escalation and indeed with the pretext of lost hours," she said.

According to Papariga, the government "chose this moment, we think that it was also assisted by the position of PASOK, following the 'pass' that it gave to it to postpone the discussion of article 16 until January, so that their action will die down."

The KKE secretary general also considers to be a "pass" PASOK's position in that it "did not take up a clear position on the salary demand of teachers, but made a recommendation to the government to give a few crumbs, just to have the collapsing of struggles."

Coalition (SYN): The Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) party accused the prime minister of a "neoliberal and Thatcherism approach" to teachers' problems during his meeting with their union representatives on Tuesday.

"The prime minister of the country, after six weeks of strike action in the education sector, appeared to adopt an intransigent stance (the same as that of [education minister Marietta] Yiannakou) toward teachers. He spread disappointment to all that hoped this meeting would result in some solution to the economic and other demands that would contribute to the modernization and improvement of state education in our country," an SYN announcement said.

After a meeting with an 11-member delegation of teacher trade unionists, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis underlined his deep esteem for the work teachers do but stressed the economic constraints made it impossible to meet their financial demands, offering only to reduce the number of incremental installments in the payment of a monthly benefit.

The party expressed conviction that there would be high participation in a protest rally planned by teachers and students on Wednesday, which would be an answer to the government's intransigent stance.

[03] No change to university entrance exam pass mark, PM stresses

ATHENS, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The minimum pass was established by law before the start of the last academic year and was first applied last summer, leaving several available places in tertiary education unfilled, in Technological Educational Institutes especially, and increasing the number of school leavers that were unable to continue on to further education.

Its abolition is an almost universal demand among highschool students that have taking over high schools throughout the country in protest, further complicating problems caused by an ongoing teachers' strike.

The premier made the statement after his meeting with union representatives of striking primary and secondary school teachers, held in the presence of Education Minister Marietta Yiannakou, on Tuesday.

Speaking after the meeting, Karamanlis appeared positively disposed to the teachers' demands in general - such as mandatory preschool education for at least one year - but underlined that the country's acute fiscal problems made it impossible to meet their financial demands.

"The commitments still apply but the capacity of the economy is given. I cannot imagine that a prime minister has been born that would say no to demands that concern education, in particular. The benefit that we promised is being given. If only we could have started giving it yesterday. But it cannot, however, be done differently because the country is sitting its own exams, not for some third party, but for the commitments it undertook itself when it entered Economic and Monetary Union," Karamanlis clarified.

During the meeting, the prime minister's only concession to the teachers' financial demands was to reduce the number of increments offered by the government for payment of a €105 benefit from six spread over three years to four, spread over roughly the same period.

He also appeared to take a positive view of remunerating teachers paid on an hourly basis - who have lost income as a result of high school takeovers and strikes - but postponed a decision until Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis returns from a trip to China.

Yiannakou, on her part, referred to the government's desire to continue dialogue.

Commenting on the meeting with Karamanlis, the head of the secondary school teachers' union, OLME, Dimitris Georgas said that it had helped change the climate in the education sector and he welcomed the government's plans to increase spending on education with the 5% of GDP target in mind.

Conversely, the head of the primary teachers' union DOE Dimitris Bratis - who has called out his union's members on an extended strike that has now entered its sixth week - insisted on the demands made by primary school teachers, while conceding the problems for the economy and of achieving the 5% of GDP target for education spending.

DOE's financial demands include immediate payment of the €105 benefit in full and an increase in the starting base salary of newly-appointed teachers - and all others on a lower pay-scale - to €1400 a month net from €950 at present.

[04] Papandreou opens Socialist International meeting on Rhodes

25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The session is jointly organized by PASOK and Turkey's Republican People's Party (CHP) and will move to Marmaris, Turkey on Wednesday.

The meeting will focus on the experiences of countries that have undergone a transition from net exporters of immigrants to net receivers of immigrants, the guarding of marine borders and illegal immigration. It will particularly focus on the experiences of Greece and Turkey as interim destinations for migrants.

In his speech, Papandreou stressed the importance of the SI meeting and noted the fact that Greece and Turkey could discuss difficult issues, which indicated the intentions of the two peoples.

He said that migration should be dealt with by addressing its root causes, such as inequality, poverty, war and violation of human rights, rather than by creating barriers. "We see every person as equal and we want them to have the same rights," he said, stressing that the voice of reason should be used to counter the "phobic syndromes" of conservativism.

CHP leader Deniz Baykal also addressed the session, pointing to the important contribution made by immigrants and to Turkey's experiences with immigration, noting that Turkey had always received immigrants, while calling for measures to deal with xenophobia.

Others addressing the meeting included SI Secretary Luis Ayala, who repeated a call for greater tolerance within the international community, Dodecanese Prefect Yiannis Maheridis and Rhodes Mayor Giorgos Yiannopoulos.

The committee is headed by Amalia Garcia, governor of Mexico's state of Zacatecas that "exports" the largest number of immigrants to the U.S.

On the sidelines of the session, there was also a one-on-one meeting between Baykal and Papandreou, during which they discussed the Cyprus issue, Turkey's European accession prospects and bilateral relations between Greece and Turkey.

After the meeting, Papandreou said that they had exchanged views in a "joint effort to find solutions in many sectors" and that it was positive that such issues could be discussed - something that would have been inconceivable in the recent past. He also stressed that SI wanted to promote such meetings throughout the world, assisting cooperation and understanding between its peoples.

[05] Interior minister briefs President on local election results

ATHENS, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

"We discussed the prospects of local government, its great importance as an institution and, mainly, the fact that local government must have an even better course in view of the 4th Community Support Framework. We must not forget that 80 percent or more of the 4th CSF will go to the regions and local government organizations," Pavlopoulos said after the meeting.

He also stressed the vital role that local authorities would play in efforts to improve the quality of democracy, social cohesion and correct regional inequalities, saying it was now the duty of the state to support local governments so that they could fulfill their role.

[06] 'Greece: poetry and music' anniversary concert at UN General Assembly

NEW YORK, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The concert is sponsored by the Alexander S. Onassis Benefit Foundation, under the auspices of the Greek Foreign Ministry and with the support of state-run Greek Radio and Television (ERT).

Leading artists will perform at the concert with music inspired by the works of poets George Seferis, Odysseus Elytis and Constantine P. Cavafy.

The evening of Greece, culture and peace concert is entitled "Greece: poetry and music".

The concert will be watched by UN officials, permanent representatives and many other diplomats of the organization’s 192 member-states, including officials of the political and cultural life of the United States and Greece.

"One of humanity's lasting quest seems to have found its answer. It concerns the seeking of beauty through art," said Papadimitriou.

"The specific songs which we have been chosen present the additional characteristic that their performance follows this which is usually called a classical style. The songs are played by a symphony orchestra and are interpreted by lyrical singers," Papadimitriou added.

Present at the press conference were Shasi Tarur, UN deputy secretary-general for communication affairs, ERT president and managing director Christos Panagopoulos, and Greek Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis.

Indian diplomat Tarur referred to the UN's mission, on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of its foundation. He spoke with praise about Greece's historic and cultural course, the country of Plato, as he said, and thanked the Greek government, the Foundation and ERT.

ERT president Panagopoulos referred to the participation of the National Symphonic Orchestra at Wednesday's event, stressing that "it is being held at the most important site for the proclamation and defense of peace and culture: The hall of the UN General Assembly."

Ambassador Vassilakis thanked in particular Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, the Foundation's president Papadimitriou and ERT president Panagopoulos for their contribution in the implementation of this effort which constituted, as he said, his "personal dream".

[07] PASOK leader Papandreou on 61st anniversary of UN

ATHENS, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

"The Day of the United Nations is celebrated every year in all the countries of the world with the expectation that the largest world peace Organization will continue to contribute in the relief of refugees, the poor, the children and that it will succeed in its aims for world peace, democracy and prosperity," Papandreou said, according to a PASOK press release.

[08] Report ratified on strengthening Civil Protection role

STRASBOURG, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The "apparatus" was created in 2001 with the purpose of mobilizing and providing aid and civil protection in the event of an emergency in EU countries. However, it also contains a relevant clause on action outside the EU.

On the occasion of recent natural disasters in EU member-states and in third countries and in order to make the EU's presence more effective, Papadimoulis proposed considerable improvements to the corresponding European Commission proposal in his report.

[09] Roussopoulos on US report regarding missing Greek Cypriots

ATHENS, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

[10] Exhibition held marking 30th anniversary of Barcelona Treaty signing

25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

"The Greek State fully participates in all the international and regional initiatives for the protection of the environment and as government and we have incorporated the environmental dimension in as many governmental policies," Stylianidis said in his address.

The deputy foreign minister underlined that the Barcelona Convention marked the start of joint action for the protection of maritime environment in the Mediterranean.

UNEP/MAP has been based in Athens since 1982.

[11] Greece, China seek to boost shipping ties

BEIJING, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

"China has shown especial interest in the creation of infrastructure, initially at the ports of Piraeus and Thessaloniki, for its transit goods to the Middle East, Europe, the Black Sea countries etcetera," the minister told reporters.

"There is interest not only from Chinese companies in the creation of infrastructure in Greek ports, but also on the part of Greek shipowners for facilities at Chinese ports," he reported.

In addition, work had begun on resolving minor difficulties between the two sides.

Open tenders would be called for port improvement projects, with financial criteria taken into account, a bidding floor, and guarantees for cargo in transit, Alogoskoufis said.

Accompanying him, Deputy Finance Minister Christos Folias underlined that he saw opportunities for alliances in all sectors.

"We proposed backing the creation in the two countries of joint ventures between Greek and Chinese firms," Folias noted.

Greek new buildings in China: More than 100 ships have been ordered by Greek shipowners for construction in China, Alogoskoufis said in a speech to Chinese executives and ministry representatives.

"We encourage this kind of cooperation, and we would like to see those ships used by Chinese firms for their exports. Chinese companies could also employ Greece's strategic geo-political position and back access for their products to Europe, especially in the rapidly evolving southeastern European market," the minister said.

He also outlined the Greek economy's performance.

"Despite high oil prices, low growth in the eurozone, and our drive for fiscal revitalization, the Greek economy is growing at a brisk pace. Our reform plan is backing enterprise, toning up the international orientation of firms and an outward-looking approach to the economy, and improving competitiveness," he said.

"Greece has the most evolved social, political and economic infrastructure in the region, and is actively promoting the incorporation of its neighbors in the European Union, the minister reported.

Many multinationals had recognized major benefits offered by Greece, and opted for the country as the seat of their operations in southeastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean.

"Greece is a gateway for foreign investors to a dynamically evolving region," Alogoskoufis said.

On Wednesday, the minister leaves Beijing for Shanghai for talks with government officials.

[12] Finance minister holds talks with Chinese trade minister

BEIJING, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Speaking after the meeting, Bo Xilai said "we referred to our cooperation in the sector of shipping. It is known that Greece is a world superpower in shipping. It has over 3,000 freighters with a capacity exceeding 1.18 million tons. In this sector, China and Greece have very great supplementarity. Meaning that China is a country with a great demand for services in sea transport in all oceans. You will find many Chinese goods in all ships. According to statistical data, over 50 percent of goods are transported with Greek ships, while over 60 percent of the oil we purchase from abroad is also transported with Greek ships. A short while ago, a great Greek shipowner began to build four ships, having a capacity of 8,500 tons, at Chinese shipyards. In addition, big Chinese companies import olive oil and marble from Greece. I believe that in the near future more opportunities will be found to widen cooperation in the economic and commercial sector."

Alogoskoufis said on his part that "Greek ports can constitute a base for the development of trade between China and the European Union. Many Greek shipowners, who carry a large part of China's trade, build their ships in this country and many traditional Greek products, such as olive oil, marble, beverages and other high quality products, can find their place in the Chinese market. Just as many Chinese products can, through Greece, find bigger markets in the European Union."

He further said that "I invited the minister to visit us in Greece soon for us to continue from our country as well this important cooperation that has developed between Greece and China and place even greater emphasis on our economic, as well as our cultural relations."

[13] Tourism minister pays official visit to Russia

25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

In an interview she gave to Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS, she noted that "the relations between Russia and Greece, particularly during this period, given that they have entered a new era in sectors such as energy and investments, have significant margins for growth." Palli-Petralia stressed that "the expectations for the sector of tourism also are similarly high."

The Greek tourism minister will visit Saint Petersburg and Moscow. In Saint Petersburg, she will officially declare open the "Greek Week" events, while in Moscow, she will inaugurate the new office of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).

The Greek minister will have a series of contacts with Russian officials as well as with representatives of Russia's largest travel agencies.

Russia this year is one of the markets of tourist arrivals to Greece which show the greatest percentage of increase. According to latest data, this percentage is close to 50 per cent. In 2005, about 183,000 Russian tourists visited Greece, marking an increase of more than 28 per cent compared to 2004.

[14] Investment opportunities in western Greece outlined in US

NEW YORK, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA/P. Panagiotou)

The delegation is visiting Greece for the Western Greece Periphery's (Achaia, Ileia and Aetoloakarnania prefectures) participation in the World Conference that took place in Atlanta on October 19-20, in which 15 twinned cities from all over the world took part, with Ancient Olympia as the honored city.

Skoularikis said that the Greek delegation's participation focused on issues of tourism development, developmental opportunities, and projection of the Periphery's comparative advantages for future investments, adding that the twinned cities institution was an exceptionally successful institution with its roots in ancient Greece, and which was presently funded by the EU.

The chairman of the Ileia Chamber of Commerce, Angelos Angelopoulos, presented the significant efforts being made in the Western Greece Periphery in recent years for the promotion of exports of olive oil and other products, such as pickles and peppers, which he said were very competitive in the US with respect to corresponding products form Turkey and Egypt, due to a reduction of excise duties by the US.

Equally noteworthy efforts were also being made in the sector of tourism, he said, adding that the Inner Cabinet, chaired by prime minister Costas Karamanlis, had 10 months ago approved a very large tourism investment by American investors on the coast of Pyrgos, Ileia prefecture, which was slated to commence in February 2007.

The director of the Greek National Tourism Organization’s NY office, George Tambakis, stressed the positive results of the Greek participation at the Atlanta world Conference, noting the decisive contribution of tourism to development and quality of life "not only for the sake of financial returns, but also for inter-cultural communication which, in turn, entails a long-term benefit to commercial transactions as well".

Western Greece Periphery Tourism Development Company general director Dimitris Karayannis said that the three prefectures of the Periphery had the advantage of receiving the highest percentage of funding under the new developmental law, nearing 60 percent while, according to a recent GNTO study, 11 of the Periphery's regions were classified as having very large tourism exploitation potential.

He added that only 15 percent of Greece's tourism potential was currently being exploited.

[15] Parliamentary Economic Committee discusses draft state budget

ATHENS, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Bezas termed the revision necessary and imperative due, as he said, to European regulations, adding that in this way the European Commission's doubts regarding economic data presented by Greece to date, and which it considered to be unreliable, are lifted.

[16] Tourism revenues up significantly in last decade, report

ATHENS, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The report, signed by the bank's chief financial consultant, Gikas Hardouvelis, said Greece was a "mature tourism destination", but faced increased competition from emerging Mediterranean destinations, particularly in terms of price level.

Greece's market share, in terms of tourist arrivals, declined in the last two years, from 1.9 pct in 2003 to 1.6 pct in 2005, while its share of tourism revenues remained unchanged at 2.0 percent.

The report said tourism revenues per arrival grew to 862 euros in 2005 from 739 euros in 2003. The report underlined that the average size of a Greek hotel unit rose to 75 beds in 2005 from 65 in 1990, but remained smaller compared with other competitor countries.

Tourism revenues per hotel unit and per bed significantly lagged behind other competitors, at 1.22 million euros in 2005 and 16,200 euros, respectively, in 2005. In Croatia, the figures were 6.1 million euros and 30,400 euros over the same period.

The report also said that seven in 10 Greek households chose June, July or August for their vacations, with Attica (the greater Athens area), Cyclades islands and Halkidiki of northern Greece as the top destinations. Most households' overnight stays were at their private vacation home, or in friends' and relatives' houses.

Annual tourism-related spending by Greek households totaled 1.54 billion euros, or 1.0 percent of GDP (in current prices). Including spending on travel abroad, the figure totaled 1.3 pct of GDP.

[17] PM briefed by development minister over energy issues

ATHENS, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Sioufas also briefed Karamanlis on SE Europe electrical power forum that began in Athens on the same day.

[18] Message by merchant marine minister on occasion of AMVER awards

ATHENS, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The ceremony is being organized at a downtown Athens hotel on Tuesday night by the Propeller Club of the United States in cooperation with the American embassy and the U.S. Coast Guard.

"Awards for 140 Greek shipping companies with 670 ships that participate in the AMVER program is a number showing the sensitivity of Greek shipping in the sector of mutual assistance in rescuing ships," the minister's message said.

"As it is known, the activities of the Propeller Club always contributed to the creation of a climate of cooperation and trust for the benefit of maritime agencies in the International Shipping sector that is sensitive for Greece," it added.

[19] SE European electricity forum begins

ATHENS, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Launched in July 2006, the energy community is a process that aims to extend the European Union's internal energy market to the bloc's southeast.

"Building the energy community can make an enormous contribution to the region. Its implementation will mean the end of isolation for the countries there," Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas told the meeting.

"It will contribute to ensuring energy supplies for the region, and to increasing the strength of cooperation among the countries. It will improve the quality of life for those peoples, and help to strengthen peace, stability and economic growth in the wider region," the minister noted.

Taking part in the forum are representatives of the energy community's member states, regulatory authorities, electricity network management bodies, donor countries and the European Union.

[20] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise

ATHENS, 25/10/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 0.12% up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks 0.41% higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 0.97% up.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 167 to 89 with 59 remaining unchanged.

Stock Futures: